The reason that it was special is because that was the first time that it had ever been seen on an F-16. It was on larger aircraft prior to that
IIRC, but again, if I'm remembering correctly, it wasn't an EW pod.

Originally posted by Kapablanka
Do they do anything other than kill people?

Edit: Aside from being a complete waste of taxpayers dollars.

edit on 22-5-2013 by Kapablanka because: (no reason given)

Yes, they lead to other advances that you use every day without thinking about it, like the space program has done for years. Many things that we
take for granted came from the military, and the space program.

Also, if you want to re-upload any pics that are now un-linked in your "A day in the life of a Boom Operator...RIP 8877" thread (especially all
those in your OP), just contact me or another staff member and we can arrange for a mod to edit new links into your posts.

~Mike

Thanks! As for that thread, I think those are ok. I linked them after photobucket did there swapping around so they should be fine. I was talking
about the last pic thread I did that was dozens of pages. But looking at it, somehow they were fixed. Thanks!

Originally posted by Zaphod58
Great pics man, I always love when you break them out.

(But that's an E-4 not VC-25.

The -25 has a solid blue nose, the E-4 has a blue stripe down the side.)

Do you need to get these approved from PR?
Hate to see ya get in hot water...
I work in FAA facilities and it's a no-no to take pics inside facilities.

edit on 22-5-2013 by wrkn4livn because: added a point

I don't need approval

I'm not in the Air Force anymore!

Originally posted by dashen
pics so close I can almost hear the F22 Pilots running out of oxygen. These are amazing. How long does your tanker stay airborne for?

Depends on our fuel load and offload. We burn 10k an hour just flying, and we can take off with around 200k of fuel, so a standard 8 hour flight
leaves us with around 95k to offload, given our minimum fuel landing with 25k in the tank requirements.

Originally posted by Glassbender777
Awesome pics again, What is the purpose of the vc-25 or whatever plane it is, Jamming, radar, etc... Are the B2s over missouri, looks like that kind
of terrain. I know there home base is in Missouri i think

edit on 22-5-2013 by Glassbender777 because: (no reason given)

VC-25 is the Presidents plane, and the E-4 is NAOC, or whatever else they want to use it for that day. And the B-2's, I don't remember where those
were shot but yes Whiteman is the home base for them.

Originally posted by Glassbender777
Talk about an awesome job, and a HUGE amount of responsiblity, you pretty much have the ability to tell the pilots how to fly to the boom, with
corrections Right?? And if they dont get it right, well they better get t right. LOL

They know how to fly to the boom, but we have Pilot Indicator light underneath the jet to let them know where they are in the flight envelope. I
would say that most of them don't use them after they've done A/R a few times, as they have their own indicators on our jet they use (such as the
inboard engine or an antenna or something).

Originally posted by HawkeyeNation
Dude these pics are awesome...now what can you tell us about UFO's?

I'm laughing but I'm also being serious

No comment

Originally posted by Lamegame
Never knew the f-22s were flying again, i thought they were grounded due to oxygen tank troubles killing a few pilots.

these were taken at Edwards in the early 2000's when they were flight testing the F-22. Way before the problems with the O2 tanks were made public.
Most of the F-22 pics I have were classified at the time, but not anymore.

I'm just wondering but is it ok to release close up pictures of the stealth planes?
a lot of detail in those pictures that someone with knowledge in that field can use...maybe?

Yes if I posted the pics then they have been cleared for release. It's always up to the receiver pilot whether or not we can take pics of them. They
know whats classified on their jet and whats not. The B-2 for instance, before you can take pics you have to check with them so they can lower some
antenna's, do have a dozen other things, etc to make sure they are clear to snap pics of.

Originally posted by dave_welch
Looks like Groom lake, or possibly China Lake in SoCal. I've always been fascinated by b2's. Once we saw one getting refueled over our house, that
was cool!

it's groom, and the one is on final approach

Originally posted by Bedlam
Any boom operator ever have a "wahoo" event that you've heard of?

As in "Holy $#^T what was that plane?" or a "Damn they almost took off the boom" event?

Originally posted by canucks555
Anything you don't gas up?

-great pics, s/f

edit on 22-5-2013 by canucks555 because: (no reason given)

Just Helo's. We can't fly slow enough. The KC-130's do that.

The dog is too stupid to hate anyone.

But yeah, it's never boring talking to you. Although I have the feeling most other people would go glassy eyed, and confused listening to us.

As in "Holy $#^T what was that plane?" or a "Damn they almost took off the boom" event?

According to an old (and wrong) North Georgia Appalachian tale, "wahoo" = "wrong hole" in Creek.

I can't believe you haven't heard that one.

HAHA! Havent heard that one but I'm with ya now. LOL wrong hole. Actually...Early days of OIF...

Look at the F-117

Now this one is silver and during daylight, but if you take a black one at night with lights out...Well can you see where the "hole" might be wrong to
a new boom?

The whole in front of the cockpit could easily be mistaken for a receptacle to the new guys.Especially at night with lights off. I'm not saying it
happened.....Ok it happened, but we don't talk about it! And no it wasn't me!

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